A motorist is fuming after copping a $200 fine after choosing to not drink and drive and spending the night safely in a public carpark.
Tao Scott is seekin
Jonathan Guildford and Matthew Littlewood16:52, May 26 2021
GEORGE EMPSON/SUPPLIED
A foggy and frosty Wednesday morning in Tekapo.
It has been a bitterly cold morning for many across the South Island as temperatures in several southern centres plummeted into the negatives, well below their overnight averages for autumn. According to MetService as of 7am on Wednesday, Tekapo had the lowest temperature at -8.2 degrees Celsius, Mosgiel was at -7C, Christchurch was -3C, Timaru -6C, Dunedin Airport -7.1C, Alexandra -6.8C, Invercargill -3C, Queenstown -4C and Westport was just over 3C. However, Mackenzie Country Weather NZ forecaster Jordan Langley said temperatures overnight in the Mackenzie District included -8C for Tekapo, -10C for Fairlie, and -7C for Twizel.
A Christchurch City Council spokesperson said a submission was being drafted for the Gambling Commission s review.
Hamish McNeilly/Stuff
Dunedin mayor Aaron Hawkins has written a draft submission concerning the charitable trusts of casinos. A draft letter from Dunedin mayor Aaron Hawkins, which forms part of a submission to be discussed by his council on Tuesday, supported a “more consistent approach to the level of community funding provided by casinos”. Hawkins also asked for the trusts to become fully independent of casinos, “rather than allow licence holders to exercise control over significant aspects of the trust”. He noted Dunedin Casino paid at least $52,000 a year to an “independent” charitable trust, which provided funding for problem gambling treatment and 1 per cent of gaming machine turnover (to a maximum of $110,000) to community and sport groups.
A Queenstown Lakes District Council spokesman said ice was forming below the summit of the Crown Range, particularly on the Queenstown side. Roading crews had used significant amounts of grit on the Crown Range Rd, so motorists should slow down, take care and carry chains, he said. All other major roads around Queenstown and Wānaka remained opened, but there was a mix of wet and dry roads with light rain falling in some areas so motorists should expect winter conditions, the spokesman said.
MetService
Lower North Island forecast from Wednesday May 19. State Highway 94 (Te Anau to Milford) closed on Monday between East Gate (Hollyford) and West Gate (Chasm) because of heavy snow warnings, and did not reopen until just after 8.30am on Wednesday.